Bag-closure



- Patented May 9, I899. F. W. PAWLING.

BAG CLOSURE.

(Application filed. Feb. 1, 1899.)

(N0 Model.)

WITNESSES INVENTDR, 2.2 219 9 THE Nonms PETERS coy, uovou'mou WASHINGTON, u. c

NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANCIS PAVVLING, OF MUNGI'E, INDIANA.

BAG-CLOSURE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 624,677, dated May 9, 1899.

Application filed February 1, 1899- $erial No- 704,082. (No model.) i

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANCIS W. PAWLING, a citizen of the United States, residing at Mnncie, county of Delaware, and State of Indiana, have invented a new and useful Bag- Closure, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an improved bagclosure which is adapted to be secured to the mouth of the bag. The device is so adapted and constructed that it will securely lock the mouth of the bag closed and when opened will firmly hold the mouth of the bagin its opened position, so that it cannot be closed, and at the same time will support the bag. The device is especially adapted for mailbags where the bags are secured in a row to a table or the wall of a room or mail-car. With this device the bags are not only supported, but are held in an open position and cannot be closed until they are lifted from their support and when closed will be locked in their closed position. These and other advantages not hereinbefore mentioned are accomplished by the construction illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several views, and in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of my closure, showing the bag suspended therefrom in dotted lines. Fig. 2 is a front elevation. Fig. 3 is a top plan view. Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4c 4, Fig. 2; and Fig. 5 is an end view showing the closure open supporting the bag and the closure supported by a table and locked in its open position.

In the drawings, A designates the supporting-bar for the arms. By referring to Fig. 4 it will be seen that this bar is an angle-bar, forming vertical and horizontal faces. Pivoted to the opposite ends of the bar A are the arms B C. These arms are pivoted by means of the pins D passing through the horizontal face of the bar and through the rounded extension D on the vertical face. When these arms are folded against the bar, their rear ends extend beyond the ends of the bar, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. These protruding ends of the arms are provided with the hooks F.

E designates the bag. Secured to the upper edge of the bag is a strip of leather or other suitable material E. cured to the inner faces of the arms and also to the inner side of the vertical face of the bar. This strip is preferably secured by means of countersunk rivets, as shown in Fig. 1. \Vhen the device is open, the hooks F on the rear ends of the arms will extend rearwardly beyondthe bar and are adapted to engage a plate G, secured to the edge of a table, as plainly shown in Fig. 5. It is obvious that this plate could be secured to the wall or any suitable support, and when the device is used in connection with a mail-bag this plate could be secured to the side of a mail-car or the wall of the post-office, if desired. It will readily be seen that when the device is open and the hooks engaging the plate, the armsbeing rigid it will be impos-' sible to close the bag until the hooks are disengaged from the plate. When locked in this open position, it will form a square opening, as shown in Fig. 1, large enough to readily throw any kind of mail-matter therein.

If desired, only the right-hand ho-ok may be disengaged from the plate and the closure folded and closed and supported entirely by the hook on the arm B.

In folding, the arm B is first folded against the bar and then the arm 0 against the arm B, as shown in Figs. 2 and 4. The arm B is provided with a shoulder H, and located with in this shoulder is a spring-latch I. C is of a length so that its end will be adja cent the end of the shoulder and will be locked closed by the latch when the arms are folded.

By forming the supporting-bar with the ver tical and horizontal faces it protects the rear and top of the closure and the arm C protects the front face, making a closure which is both air and water tight and at the same time protecting the edge of the bag from wear and tear. r

If desired, I can place a staple K on-the bar and provide apertures in the arms and lock the closure when closed by means of a padlock L, as shown in Fig. 3. v

The arm' This strip is se Having thus described myinvention, what to have a bag secured thereto, of a hook on the rear ends of the arms adapted when the arms are unfolded, to open the bag, to engage a support for supporting the frame and locking the arms in their open position.

3. In a bag-closure, the combination with a bar of arms pivoted to the ends of the bar provided with hooks at their rear ends,a shoulder on one of the arms, a latch in the shoulder adapted to engage the end of the other arm when the arms are folded against the bar.

4. In a bag-closure, the combination with a frame consisting of a bar and arms pivoted to the opposite ends thereof, the frame adapted to have a bag secured thereto, of means on the rear ends of the arms adapted when the arms are unfolded to engage a support for supporting the frame and lookin g the arms in their open position.

5. In a bag-closure, the combination with a frame consisting of a bar and arms pivoted to the opposite ends thereof, the frame adapted to have a bag secured thereto, of means on the rear ends of the arms adapted when the arms'are unfo1ded to engage a support for supporting the frame and locking the arms in their open position, and mechanism for locking the arms in their folded position against the bar.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

FRANCIS WV. PAVLING.

Vitnesses:

J. E. WADE, WM. DU VAL BROWN. 

